Double-happiness, double holiday madness
Anyone out there less than excited about decorating for the winter holidays?
Good thing my neighbors are on it, because I've decided I'm done with the decor. I enjoy giving presents, but "creating atmosphere"... not so much. My kids will just have to take it up with their future therapists. "My mother was horrible at holidays; she never put up Thanksgiving turkeys or mistletoe or did the Elf on the Shelf." THAT'S RIGHT.
"She was always too busy in her studio to create holiday cheer." ABSOLUTELY. (I'm sure my punishment will be one of them marrying the Homemaker From Hell.)
This year, the kids will literally wake up on December 25th to Christmas presents... and go to bed with the first night of Hanukkah gifts. I better not hear any complaining as I bandage the paper cuts I'll get from wrapping all this stuff!
Giving and receiving
I should be working on a grant application right now.
Image credit: shescraftyllc/etsy.com
The best I can tell you is "I'm approaching it... sideways." I know it's possible for a foundation to award me a grant. I'm still (!) thrilled that earlier this year, a group of people decided it's better to give (me money to continue making art) than to receive (a polite rejection letter instead).
Everyone receives more rejection than gifts, of course. It's just hard to focus on a new application when you've recently been notified that the last one was turned down. The check is not in the mail. Ugh.
Can I just go holiday shopping instead?
Art & motherhood: things to be thankful for
In spite of this crap-heaped-on-top-of-crap year, I still have a few precious things that fill my heart with gratitude.
The Boy folded up a little origami cornucopia and gave it to me as a Thanksgiving gift. He wrote the things he's thankful for on paper vegetables, like "toys" and "electronics" and other fun stuff. But he wrote the most important things in his life on the big pumpkin.
My favorites: "putting up with me" & "giving us stuff with sentimental value." ©Lisa Myers Bulmash
For the last two weeks, TwoBoo kept reminding me to come see him speak during his class Thanksgiving Day presentation. Which must be some sort of miracle in itself: anything else he would've forgotten in seconds.
TwoBoo also helped his classmates sound out the big words. ©Lisa Myers Bulmash
They're not angels: The Boy threw plenty of shade at me later today when he had to help put away clean pots and pans. And TwoBoo has yet to get through a whole day without contradicting me, or trying to correct my answers after he asks me a question. (I can't even tell you how hard it is let those ones slide.)
Marshmallow and chocolate chip eyeballs for Thanksgiving. ©Lisa Myers Bulmash
Still, I am amazed that I have a son who forgets everything but an opportunity to shine for me. I am awed that I have a son who expresses emotion in an artistic way... and trusts me enough to share these thoughts and emotions with me.
So on this day that also symbolizes a lot of brutal history (you know, genocide, broken treaties...) I wish you the deepest love possible, and comfort in the art you love.